# NTSB DEN83FTE08: Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, N181RS, Fort Collins, CO, March 19, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: March 18, 1983, 21:35 local (Mar 19, 1983, 04:35 UTC)
- Place: Fort Collins, CO
- Coordinates: 40.649326, -105.030456 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6493&lon=-105.0305&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 6 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16012
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN83FTE08
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16012/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83FTE08

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - icy (contributing factor)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - snowbank (contributing factor)
- Main gear collapsed, landing - roll
  - landing gear,main gear strut - failure,total (contributing factor)
  - landing gear,main gear strut - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT THE ACFT DRIFTED LEFT AFTER TOUCHDOWN. PROPS WERE BROUGHT TO THE BETA RANGE, & CORRECTION WAS ADDED WITH RIGHT SPOILER & RIGHT RUDDER. THERE WAS AN IMMEDIATE DROPPING OR TURNING TO THE LEFT & THE ACFT HIT A SNOWRIDGE. BOTH ENGS WERE FEATHERED & THE ACFT SLID ALONG THE SNOWRIDGE. THE LEFT WING TIP WAS STRIKING THE GROUND ALONG WITH THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FUSELAGE. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR DRAG STRUT WAS SHEARED FLUSH WITH THE BARREL CAUSING THE GEAR TO COLLAPSE. METALLURGICAL TESTS REVEALED THAT THE ROD HAD BEEN OVERLOADED & HAD NOT BEEN WEAKENED BY CORROSION, CRACKS OR FATIGUE PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N181RS (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-40
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 426SA
- Airframe hours: 655
- Engines: AIRESEARCH TPE-331-10 665 lbs thrust turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Executive/Corporate, Part 91
- Operator: Newcomb Securites Co.
- Registered owner: Interplan Leasing Corp.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: AAIP, February 17, 1983, 58 hours before
- Departed: GRI, GRAND ISLAND, NE
- Destination: FNL, FT. COLLINS, CO
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FNL, Ft. Collins/Loveland Muni, runway 33, 6,500 × 100 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 30; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 3,901 total, 124 in this make and model, 3,754 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Night/dark
- Wind: 70° at 5 knots
- Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft overcast
- Temperature: 21 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Observed at: FCL, 9 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19830318016559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830318016559A), Mar 18, 1983: Mtsbsi MU2B40, Ft Collins, CO, Substantial damage. Left gear collapsed during landing roll on snow-covered runway. Collapse was result of gear striking a snow ridge.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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